What's Hemppenin'?

People most commonly underestimate the value of hemp oil and its medical importance. There is a great possibility that hemp seed oil can be used to treat and get rid of arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that majorly impacts the musculoskeletal system of the human body, but more specifically the joints of a person (or even an animal).

This disease is one of the major contributors to disability among people over fifty years of age. There is a large quantity of people who just dismiss this condition as just an inevitable process, that is natural and very normal which comes about due to old age. However this, is just a wives tale. But, in reality this condition has been studied and noted to be one of the very worst and most agonizing diseases and is very slow to take action, and can essentially be debilitating and crippling as well. Arthritis brings along a great many excruciating and painful symptoms as it’s companions.

In this day and age with the advancement in technology as well as with medical research, study and breakthroughs, the professionals have been searching relentlessly for the best way to deal with this condition. And the research has found an organic way of combating this disease without any prescription drugs to alleviate the pain and without any calls for alarm or strange side effects associated with pharmaceuticals. That is the reason each and every one of you needs to learn and understand this fact. This amazing cannabis oil is one of the most useful products that can be used to fight and eliminate the conditions of arthritis.

The easiest way of wrapping your head around this condition is by understanding that the body, and it’s joints are full of inflammation. This affliction causes consistent and frequent pains and also swelling in the affected joints thereby causing a decrease in mobility for most of the people affected. This condition has always been thought to have no quick remedies, but that is not entirely accurate. It is a recommended treatment option. By using hempen oil, which is 100% natural, and is nature’s most perfectly balanced plant based oil. This marvelous oil contains tons of the necessary vitamins and minerals along with a hefty serving of unsaturated fats. The flavor of the beautiful green liquid when tasted straight off of a tablespoon is quite fantastic. This is one of the recommended treatments for arthritis, although it is a long term treatment process which involves ingesting the oil daily. Just to let you know it is never too early to start, as they say, “the sooner, the better.”

The hemp oil advantage is that it combats inflammation and is, in fact, the most completely balanced specimen with all the essential fatty acids as well as the gamma linoleic acids. These are very prevalent in this seed oil and are the most crucial in the acquisition of a completely healthy body.

The study of gamma linoleic acid (GLA) has proven that hemp seed oil not only assists in treating inflammation of the joints, skin inflammation and arthritis. But is also a great cure that lowers the chances of a heart attack. On the other hand, it also aids in strengthening the bodies immunity to most of the diseases. Studies have also shown that essential fatty acids (EFA) play a significant role in lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood. Additionally, EFAs assist in promoting efficient flow of blood. Generally speaking, this super seed oil contains elements that improve the entire bodies functions.

Hemp is one of the very most important crops in the whole world as it not only provides seeds that are edible, but extremely nutritious for human and animal consumption. The health benefits that you can acquire from using products derived from this wonder weed are far greater than just the financial value that it offers. It also adds value to our lives, and that is the most important element in which every person could ever want. These plants offer edible seeds, multifunctional oil as well as medicine, just to name a few.

Imbalances in certain kinds of fatty acids are some of the root causes for diseases like arthritis, acne, eczema and many others. This fabulous oil aids in the correction of such imbalances. Hemp seed oil is rich with amino acids, the most necessary and essential amino acids and also protein. These properties make it a number one product that every person must not miss out on in their respective diet plan. It is a foodstuff that must be used as frequently as possible so as to achieve the greatest benefits from it. There are no detrimental long-term side-effects associated with its use, and the advantages are astronomical.

Hemp is for the most part planted early in the year around March or May, for the Northern Hemisphere and September and November for the Southern Hemisphere. Thus, hemp is planted and grows during the spring, and after three to four months it becomes mature and is harvested.

If an early cropping is sought then the herb is then collected and dried towards the end of its flowering phase. That will have the effect of reducing the yield and number of seeds produced, but also increases the quality and durability of the hemp fiber, as well as the amount produced (the yield).

As for more details about organic hemp cultivation. The seeds for the plant should be sown during a period that ranges from approximately mid-April to mid-May, at a depth of 1½ to 2½ inches (4 to 6 cm).

A significant advantage of growing this crop is that it requires much less fertilizer than other commercial crops, such as corn. Furthermore, usually no herbicides, fungicides or pesticides are required as this plant is normally not seriously affected by noxious weeds or bugs so measures to physically protect the plant are not necessary.

It is also necessary to note that there are numerous hemp varieties, with the European Union certifying as many as 46 varieties. Again, those strains contain extremely low levels of narcotic elements, with those types having a content of such chemicals as low as 0.2%, rendering the plant virtually useless for intoxication. These strains also have a very high percentage of fiber, with as much as a 40% of the plant being comprised of valuable fiber. Correspondingly, medicinal strains of Cannabis have a very low amounts of useful fiber and a much higher proportion of THC: from 2% to in excess of 20%.

The harvesting phase of hemp

Once the hemp is ready to harvest, these plants are cut at a height of ¾ to 1¼ inches (2 to 3 cm) above the ground. The stalks are then left out in the sun to dry, usually being left just by the stump of the plant. This drying time may sometimes require up to four days to complete.

Processing the hemp

Now that the cut stem is dry, it is ready to be processed to get the useful fiber out.

There are two ways to do this: the traditional way (which involves a process known as retting). Or the modern way (which involves the use of machinery to complete the separation of the fiber from the rest of the plant). This last mechanical process is thermomechanical pulping.

Retting is a rather straightforward process that involves the use of humidity and natural bacteria to destroy or separate the parts of the plant from the useful fibers. There are two variants of this process: Dew retting and Water retting and both can be used to separate the useful fiber from the rest of the tissues of the plant.

Water retting is by far the most popular and practiced method. It is simply submerging the cut and dried stalks in water for a period ranging from six up to fourteen days, depending on the judgment of the person who is doing it. The process works by letting water penetrate into the stem and expanding the vegetable cells inside. This swelling causes the outer part of the stem to burst and also increases the number of bacteria that eat the plant cells, but leave the valuable fiber.

Dew retting is another variant that is useful when the hydraulic resources have to be rationed, being very useful in drier climates and desserts where the farmer has to distribute the water carefully. In this process, the stalks are laid out in the field or open area and left there for a period of two or even three weeks. Within that period, the night dew creates an effect similar to the process explained above, but that effect is delayed and much slower. During the day, the sun dries the plants and during the night the process starts again. Eventually, weakening and destroying the plant tissues with the combined effect of the sun, the dew and the bacteria present within the stalks themselves.

It is especially useful and practical in desserts, where there is a considerable amount of dew in the nights and high temperatures during the day.

After the retting process is complete, the resulting fibers have to be cured, by leaving them on the open air until they are dry. Afterward, the useful fiber will be left but covered by the brittle leftovers of the plant tissues. That fragile tissue can be easily cracked and separated by bending the fibers either by hand or by passing it through rollers. After that, only the useful fiber will be left.

Thermomechanical pulping is the modern process and is, by far, much faster and easier.

In this process, the dried and cut stems of the hemp plant are further cut into smaller pieces and fed into the machine. Which crush and grind these pieces, creating heat as an effect of the physical force applied, and subsequently, vapor. Both the heat and the water vapor help soften and separate the vegetable tissues from the fiber, and is very efficient yielding more fiber and destroying or separating much of the plant tissues.

Other details of hemp farming

Other relevant details relative to growing this super plant are that it grows best at altitudes lower than 1300 feet (400 meters) above the sea level. Also, hemp is very resistant to lower temperatures and can withstand temperatures of less than 23°F (-5°C).

The water requirements are around 79 to 132 gallons (300 to up to 500 liters) per every 2.2 lbs (1 kilo) of dry stems. Please note that this amount of water is much less than the requirements of most other ordinary commercial crops, such as cotton. Which will require as much as 13 to 14 times the amount of water used for growing hemp.

Hemp is vulnerable to all sorts of noxious pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and nematodes. Although, these conditions may result in a lower quality useful fiber, delayed growth and possibly even death of the plant. These diseases for the most part do not tend even to affect the overall yield of a field, so for this reason, chemicals are not always necessary. This extremely versatile plant is widely accepted to be a crop whose harvesting is friendly and beneficial to the environment. That is due to the lower amounts of pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides used during its growth and accumulation, especially when compared to other commercial crops such as wheat or corn.

This powerhouse of a seed can be eaten raw or used in cooking and baking. However, this seed is not a nut, but still it has a bit of a crunch and has a delicious nutty taste. These seeds contain high amounts of fiber, protein and carbohydrates. Plus, they provide numerous minerals and vitamins. All of these nutrients together help protect the human body from various diseases, regulates the circulatory system and helps improve the digestive tract. Due to its high fiber and protein levels, hemp seeds are widely known as a healthy snack food. A small amount of these seeds helps silence any cravings and provides you with energy for a fair amount of time. It is OK to say those who can not consume dairy protein can and should use hemp protein as a supplement to their diet.

You don’t need to soak these seeds in water before blending with water and a small amount of natural sweetener, and a dash of salt to create hemp milk. That will provide the same benefits as eating dairy products essentially but without all the allergic reactions. This seed milk is non dairy and low in cholesterol and saturated fats. It is easily digestible as it does not contain lactose, which is the substance found in milk and is difficult to absorb. These lactose-free properties make this seed milk entirely suitable for infants and all of those who have digestive problems. You can drink it plain or use in tea, coffee, smoothies and cereals.

When it comes to the green oil pressed from these seeds, it is considered to be the most well-balanced of the oils among all seed oils. It contains the adequate proportions of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Both these EFAs protect from heart diseases, certain types of cancer, dementia and diabetes. Besides being a powerhouse of essential fatty acids, it is also an excellent source of vitamin D and E. This oil is the only plant oil which contains vitamin D. This vitamin helps you absorb calcium, which in turn helps protect from bone disease. The high amount of Vitamin E contained in here is very useful for skin and hair. This oil is a natural moisturizer, and it keeps skin healthy and fresh and the oil is often used in shampoos, soaps, lotions, creams and other cosmetic products. These are just a few of the benefits of hemp seeds.